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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: key · fan · roll · jam · charge · pit · track · rock

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. key — in music
  3. track — to keep track
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. key — the most important part
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. rock — a stone
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. charge — electricity
  15. roll — a cake
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. track — a path
  18. charge — in control
  19. rock — music
  20. pit — in a race
  21. charge — a price
  22. roll — a list
  23. key — for a lock
  24. track — a song

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com